Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-09303

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 5 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, following the reported cancellation of a proposed meeting with patient representatives on 20 June 2022, whether it can confirm that a rescheduled meeting will take place before the publication of the new Framework for Pain Management.

The Scottish Government intends to publish the Implementation Plan for the Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery in summer 2022. As advised in a letter to the Convenors of the Cross Party Group on Chronic Pain on 15 June, Ministers intend to meet with patient representatives of the Group once it has been published.

Extensive engagement of people with lived experience was carried out at all stages to develop the Framework. This includes through representation on the National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain and a national survey of people with chronic pain and their carers. We have also sought input from other stakeholder groups during the development of the Framework including NHS staff, service planners and third-sector partners. This has included work to bring together the diverse clinical disciplines involved in pain management in order to inform and support activities to improve chronic pain services.

The draft Framework also underwent public consultation with a high level of responses from people with chronic pain and other stakeholders. We are grateful for the views and ideas shared through the consultation which have been used to inform the Aims and Actions we will set out in the forthcoming Implementation Plan. Officials will provide a draft of the Plan to Ministers within the coming weeks and publication is anticipated shortly after this.

Question reference: S6W-09671

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Dorothy Bain on 5 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further information regarding the Lord Advocate’s reference to the Supreme Court on whether the question for a referendum on Scottish independence relates to reserved matters.

Question reference: S6W-09302

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 5 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government which (a) clinical networks and (b) stakeholders it is working with to inform the delivery of the new Framework for Pain Management publication.

Question reference: S6W-09413

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the recommendations of the Ventilation Short-Life Working Group (a) were submitted to the Scottish Government and (b) will be published, and what the reasons are for any delay.

Question reference: S6W-09420

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the recommendations of the Ventilation Short-Life Working Group (a) were submitted to the Scottish Government and (b) will be published, and what the reasons are for any delay.

Question reference: S6W-09377

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 5 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and his deputies have reportedly cancelled meetings with chronic pain patients, and what its position is on whether this has removed a chance, before publication, for patients who use pain services to discuss a new framework for delivery, in light of reports that it is continuing partnerships with other stakeholders on this issue.

Question reference: S6W-09363

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the recommendations of the Ventilation Short-Life Working Group (a) were submitted to the Scottish Government and (b) will be published, and what the reasons are for any delay.

Question reference: S6W-09423

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 5 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the Short Life Food Security and Supply Taskforce will publish its short-term recommendations.

Question reference: S6W-09141

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 5 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns over the impact of seals entering rivers, what information it has on where in Scotland the seal, Spearmint, is due to be relocated to; how seals released from captivity, or which have had previous interaction with humans, are monitored and assessed for any (a) unusual behaviour and (b) impact on their local environment, including foraging in rivers, and whether it will provide details of any such monitoring to date.

The juvenile grey seal Spearmint was released on the Farne Islands, Northumberland on 30 June 2022.

Grey seals are regularly found injured or sick along the UK coastline. In most cases these animals are taken to rescue centres where, following a period of rehabilitation, are released back to the wild at the locations where they are found. The Scottish Government is not aware of any monitoring that takes place with regards to the release of rehabilitated seals from these centres.

Grey seals are widely distributed around the Scottish coast and in some limited cases, individual animals may enter river systems. The Scottish Government recognises that seal predation is one of several pressures affecting wild salmon in rivers, which is why it continues to work with the sector, stakeholders and scientific community to explore practical ways to address these interactions.

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